Use of the theftcenter.org Certified Professional logo may only be authorized by The National Center for the Study of Theft Behavior.

Interested in Becoming a

National Center Certified Theft Counselor?

To become a National Center Certified Theft Counselor each participant must be able to demonstrate competence in The National Center's theory, philosophy and service delivery. A "National Center Certified 'Theft Counselor" must strictly maintain fidelity to The National Center's model.

The next step involves the negotiation and development of a personal training program. This program includes extensive practice, communication, feedback and training. Typically participants do not obtain "Certified" status in less than 6 months.

Complete the National Center's three day training and obtain "Trained" status.

Develop a personal training program.

Practice, communicate, obtain feedback and receive further training.

Demonstrate competence in The National Center's theory, philosophy and service delivery.

Utilize each of The National Center's Mandatory Elements in each session.

Maintain fidelity to the The National Center's model.

Be reviewed annually for certification renewal.

Obtaining this level of certification can be used as a credential in self promotion.

National Center "Certified Theft Counselor" status may be revoked if fidelity of the model is not maintained and, as such, all rights an priviliges associated with "Certified" status are also revoked.

To learn about The National Center's Trained Theft Counselor training . . .

The National Center's Certified Theft Counselor Training

Want to be a Certified Theft Counselor?

Call Now!

Attend our Three Day Training Program and become a:

National Center for the Study of Theft Behaviors

TRAINED THEFT COUNSELOR

Who should attend?

Social Service Workers

Judges

Mental Health Professionals

Prosecutors

Corrections Professionals

Defense Attorneys

Parents & Foster Parents

Probation/Parole Officers

School Counselors & Teachers

Security Officers

Training by The National Center for the Study of Theft Behaviors

The National Center for the Study of Theft Behaviors, (hereinafter called, The National Center), is a pioneer in its field. Since 1983, with the cooperation of its partner, "THEFT TALK" Counseling Service Inc, The National Center has been dedicated to accumulating research on the topic of theft and to training theft counselors. As a result of this specialty we have made several exciting discoveries and experienced fascinating successes. The National Center is quite optimistic about the psychology of prevention, counseling and corrections interventions. We find it interesting that the public is losing faith in rehabilitation efforts at a time when the most significant breakthroughs are occurring.

A Primer to our Ideology

The assumptions of the Classical and Control Theories of criminal behavior is that the only hope for change in criminal activity comes when we are successful at controlling the environment where crime might occur, (everything outside of the offenders control). This is typically done through the use of security apparatus and more police patrols. To some extent, we agree with this approach. Classical interventions can be very effective when adequate security is available.

If we don't mind living in a Police State, with officers on every corner, Control Theory can be very effective too. We believe thieves function a lot like water or electricity, they take the course of least resistance. Subsequently, "The Club" or a car alarm will often deter a theft offender; a burglary alarm and/or bars on windows may be enough incentive to deter - to send a prowler to someone else's home; and security tags, cameras and guards at the department store may, deter - send a prospective shoplifter to another store.

Though the Classical and Control approaches can be very effective, they only protect one car, home or store at a time. These devices work fairly well at protecting oneself on an individual one-at-a-time basis - if/when implemented, but they will not reduce crime until everyone owns "The Club", an alarm or has their own security guard. The Classical and Control Theories focus on an "external control system".

The National Center's focus is quite different. We focus exclusively on the development of an "internal control system." In contrast to the interventions noted above, being effective with just one theft offender can literally prevent hundreds of people and/or stores from being victims. We do this by confronting the offenders thinking errors, cognitive restructuring, cognitive behavior modification and the use of Reality and Dissonance Therapy.

If your group or organization would like to hear more about the development of an internal control system The National Center is available to provide training for you and/or your organization. We can assure you that we will present new and exciting information under the construct of a model which will be rewarding and stimulating. We are experts at training people to work with theft offenders.

We believe more severe punishment is not the answer unless we lock them all up.

We believe the true antisocial personality should be locked up.

We believe most people who commit crime are not "criminals" or antisocial.

We believe education is a very effective preventative and counseling tool.

We believe human life has great value and that this is important to our work.

We believe theft offenders think differently about stealing than you and I do.

We believe we can change the way people think about stealing.

We believe we are very good at what we do.

If your group or organization would like to hear more about the development of an internal control system The National Center is available to provide training for you and/or your organization. We can assure you that we will present new and exciting information under the construct of a model which will be rewarding and stimulating. We are experts at training people to work with theft offenders.

Though quite practical in approach, our presentations are philosophical enough to generate thought provoking questions and dialogue. It is our position that theft offenders do a lot of thinking, and therefore, so should the professionals who work with them. We are confident you will leave our training with specific new and useful techniques and significant insights into the mind of a theft offender.

What will you learn?

Upon completion of the three day training you will:

Learn the do's and don'ts of successful intervention techniques.

Understand Cops and Robbers Thinking®.

Explore the reason punishment does not work.

Know the importance of Mental Rehearsing®.

Gain insight into the thinking error called a "License".

Be able to identify and correct Circumlocutory Thinking.

Have the tools to guide offenders toward an internally motivated reason not to steal.

Learn the importance of dissonance therapy.

Know how to have the client do a personal inventory of his/her own attitudes values and beliefs.

What is the Curriculum?

Three Days of Intensive Training

Spend three days with a Certified National Center Trainer.

Training Manual - The Psychology of Stealing

A complete training manual, The Psychology of Stealing, is used as one of our teaching tools. A manual outlining the complete theory and philosophy behind a National Center three day training.

Training Video - A Two Disk Set Training Video

A complete training video with four full hours of an actual "THEFT TALK"™ counseling session. This video demonstrates all of the components learned in our training sessions. A $150 value.

Small Class Size

A limited number of enrollees are allowed per training.

Consultation

Each National Center Trained Counselor is granted 2 hours of free phone consultation, to be used within 12 months of receiving training.

Observe/attend an Actual Session

For those who choose to come to Portland, Oregon for training, we make every attempt to have you observe an actual small group counseling session. You can watch a Certified "THEFT TALK" Counselor conduct a session and participate in post-session follow-up and debriefing.

Interested in becoming a:

National Center Trained Theft Counselor?

We offer two ways for you to be trained and toachieve"Trained"status.

You can come to Portland, Oregon for training

or

We will send a representative to you.

This program, when successfully completed leads to a certificate declaring you to be a National Center for the Study of Theft Behaviors Trained Theft Counselor and are authorized to use this credential in self promotion.

Cost

Reduced fee of 20% for three or more participants from the same agency at Portland location.

Significantly reduced fee of 30% for agencies which have had previous participants complete this training - for Portland only.

Training Fees

National Center for the Study of Theft Behaviors Trained Theft Counselor

Portland Training$500.00 per person

Call our office and pay by credit card.

Come to Portland, Oregon for a three day Seminar. This fee does not include travel, food or lodging expenses. National Center Trained Theft Counselors receive a framed certificate confirming successful completion of our three day training program and are authorized to use this credential in self promotion. Recipients also receive a copy of The Psychology of Stealing and a copy of the Training Video.

If three or more participants are attending, call 800-88-THEFT for your 20% fee reduction to $400.00 per person.

If your agency has previously purchased a seminar from The National Center, call 800-88-THEFT for your 30% fee reduction, ($350 per person).

National Center for the Study of Theft Behaviors Trained Theft Counselor Training

We come to you$1,800.00

Call our office and pay by credit card.

We send a representative to you and provide three days of intensive training. This fee does not include travel, food or lodging expenses. National Center Trained Theft Counselors receive a certificate confirming successful completion of our three day training program and are authorized to use this credential in self promotion. Four recipients also receive a copy of The Psychology of Stealing. One copy of the Training Vidoe is provided. Smaller class sizes are preferred, limit of 8 persons.

(Please keep in mind our theft prevention efforts are focused on the offender and not on store security techniques. Please be aware that The National Center for the Study of Theft Behaviors can not supervise or control the services you deliver and in no way is responsible or liable for the actions of any person certified as "trained" and not employed by The National Center for the Study of Theft Behaviors. )

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Use of the theftcenter.org Certified Professional logo may only be authorized by The National Center for the Study of Theft Behavior™.